Chapter 1
The back door of the white Bloom & Beyond van opened slowly.
Yuna let out a long sigh before reaching for the bouquet of fresh flowers that nearly covered half her body. White roses, pink peonies, and blue hydrangeas had been arranged neatly according to the customer's order. She also brought along a small cart for transporting the delivery, with several small boxes stacked on top.
“The Grand Hanseong Hotel…” she murmured, tilting her head back to look at the imposing five-star building in front of her.
This wasn't her first delivery to a luxury hotel. Still, every time she saw the rows of imported cars lined up neatly at the entrance, she felt a little out of place.
“Don't fall… don't fall…” she whispered, hugging the bouquet tightly while pulling the cart behind her.
A hotel attendant immediately approached her.
“Flower delivery?”
“Yes,” Yuna replied, nodding quickly.
“Please follow me.”
Yuna followed the attendant along a designated passage to the lobby. After handing the bouquet to the recipient, she let out a relieved breath.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
At the same time, a black Genesis G90 Limousine entered the hotel's VIP area.
The security guards quickly cleared the way. A valet attendant bowed respectfully as soon as the vehicle's rear door opened.
“Good morning, Mr. Kim.”
Noah stepped out with an unreadable expression. His black suit was immaculate, without a single wrinkle. At nearly 188 centimeters tall, his presence alone was enough to draw the attention of several guests coming and going from the hotel.
“Sir, we'll park the car in the VIP lot.”
Noah merely gave a brief nod.
His phone rang.
The call was from his secretary.
“Mr. Kim, the representative from Zenith Holdings has arrived.”
“I'm coming now.”
Noah walked straight into the hotel without looking back. The valet attendant drove his car toward the designated VIP parking space near the lobby entrance.
Yuna unloaded the small cart before turning back toward the van. She had only taken a few steps when she suddenly remembered something.
“Oh…”
She turned around. A small box containing greeting cards was still sitting on the cart.
“How could I forget this?” she muttered, shaking her head slightly.
Yuna quickly turned back around. She grabbed the box as she hurried over. Without realizing it, one of the cart's folded handles hadn't been locked completely.
The moment she pulled the cart, the handle sprang open with a jolt.
Screech!
The sound of metal scraping made Yuna freeze.
Slowly, she turned to the side.
A luxurious black sedan parked beside the cart reflected the morning light across its surface. A thin line several centimeters long marred the rear door.
Yuna's face went pale.
“Wow… this is just my luck. I'm already in trouble first thing in the morning,” she murmured in despair.
She swallowed before crouching down and rubbing the mark with her fingertip.
It didn't come off.
“I'm screwed.”
Yuna squeezed her eyes shut. She was on the verge of tears.
“Why is my luck so awful today…”
“What are you doing?”
A low voice from behind made Yuna stand straight.
A man in a valet uniform was looking back and forth between her and the car.
“I…”
Yuna gave a hollow laugh.
“If I said I was cleaning this car, would you believe me?”
The valet stared at her without expression.
“No.”
Yuna scratched her cheek even though it didn't itch, then gave a small nod with a guilty look.
“Okay… I bumped it a little.”
“A little?”
The valet pointed toward the line on the car door.
“That belongs to a VIP customer.”
“A VIP?”
Yuna's face grew even paler.
“The owner just went into the hotel.”
Yuna's heart seemed to drop into her stomach.
“What if I… pay?”
The valet let out a long breath.
“I need to report this.”
Yuna could only nod slowly. In her mind, she had already started calculating the balance in her bank account.
Less than five million won.
If the cost of repairing the car was higher than her savings, she might have to work for months without a day off.
Just thinking about it made her head throb.
A few minutes later, the hotel's main doors opened again.
Noah appeared with a man in his late forties, the representative from Zenith Holdings. Their discussion was not yet over, but Noah stopped the moment his eyes landed on the black car in front of him.
The thin line on the rear door was clearly visible in the morning light.
“What happened?” he asked.
The valet immediately bowed respectfully.
“Mr. Kim, I'm sorry. There was a minor accident during the flower delivery.”
Noah shifted his gaze to Yuna.
Yuna, who had kept her head lowered until then, slowly raised her face.
Their eyes met.
For a few seconds, the sounds of vehicles and the voices of the guests around them seemed to disappear.
Yuna had never seen a man so composed, polished, and unapproachable. But the first thing that crossed her mind wasn't the man's face.
Instead, it was a much more frightening question.
How much would it cost to repair this car?
Noah looked at the line on his car, then turned his gaze back to Yuna.
“You did this?”
Yuna tightened her grip on the box of greeting cards in her hands.
“I'm sorry. It was an accident.”
“An accident still caused damage.”
Noah's voice wasn't raised, but it was cold enough to make Yuna's shoulders tense.
“I'll pay.”
“With what?”
The question slipped out just like that. But Yuna's expression changed as though he had just slapped her.
Noah noticed the change, but he didn't take back his words.
Yuna lowered her head.
“I'll find a way.”
Noah looked at Yuna's still-pale face. The girl was clearly frightened, yet she remained standing there and admitted her mistake. No excuses, no attempt to run away. Only honesty, accompanied by an anxious expression as she thought about something she might not be able to afford.
Something about her reaction left Noah silent for a moment.
Then the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
The smile was so faint, but it was enough to make the valet beside him hold his breath. Kim Noah was not a man who smiled easily, especially not when facing someone who had just scratched his car.
“I'll find a way,” Yuna said again, her voice quiet but firm.
Noah shifted his gaze to the thin line on his car door. The damage was insignificant. Yet the girl standing in front of him was far more interesting than the scratch.
He looked back at Yuna.
“All right.”
A mysterious smile still lingered on his lips.
“Come to Daehan Group headquarters tomorrow. Nine o'clock sharp.”
Yuna quickly raised her face.
“Huh?”
But Noah had already turned and walked away, leaving Yuna staring blankly beside the scratched car.
She didn't know what the man was planning.
She also didn't know that starting tomorrow, her life would no longer go on as usual.